Every night in bed, I read all my favorite blogs on my kindle...it's such a completely DIFFERENT experience than reading them online.

I actually "read" blogs on my kindle, versus just rushing through headlines in front of a computer. That's what I do when I'm on the web.

At first I thought "Why would anyone pay 99 cents a month to read a blog when it's free?"

Well, I realized that for just 3 cents a day, I can relax and read an entire article, without blinking ads coming at me and other things fighting to distract me. My neck is also less sore from sitting in front of the computer and I even found out that some blogs write 10-15 articles a day, but I've never see them because I only visit the blog once a week or randomly. How great it is to have all these articles flow into my kindle.

Blogs have passionate writers and because they are tied into specialized communities, their info is hot off the press. Also, topics I'm interested in are discussed, such as how artists use social media to sell their art. Rarely do I find newspapers or magazines that write about this specific subject.

I can clip articles for later reads (versus putting them into the twilight zone bookmark world), and if I feel the urge to click through a link in the article, I can do this on a kindle, but the great thing about kindle is it narrows down the noise coming at me when I'm surfing the web...where rarely I read a complete article.

Thanks to our enthusiastic readers who submitted their art! Here is our Gallery of indie Christmas cards for 2010!

From the submissions below, I selected 14 cards based on interesting design challenges, emotional response, and marketability. Out of those, Kathy Krassner chose the "top pick" Christmas card based on a "new look." -Kate

"Since I've covered the greeting card market as a magazine editor for more than two decades -- and personally send and receive more than 100 holiday cards each year -- finding a "new look" that I haven't already seen on a Christmas card is a real challenge! That's why Rebecca Green's design caught my eye. I appreciate the juxtaposition of the various patterns and shapes, the pairing of unexpected colors such as peach and pink with the traditional red and green, plus the handwritten-type font that delivers a well-expressed message of hope and peace. This card is a winner not only for its "new look" but for its smile factor and salability."

Other EDITOR PICKS for 2010

Comment: A playful and humorous card with bright colors. People always like cat themes.

You can support this blog by ordering Kate's e-Booklets starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available. You can also view the list of all recommended greeting card books by a variety of authors.

Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores explains how to sell cards nationwide. Included are detailed guidelines on: How to price cards for a profit, get professional feedback, find sales representatives and follow industry standards. Information is also applicable to gift items, magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.

20 Steps to Art Licensing is a book about how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, or manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. Learn how to prepare your art, what companies to contact, how to find agents, and what trade shows to attend. Includes extensive resources on social media, copyrights, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers.

7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.

Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured is a booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get a special feature in national publication. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: 22 Gift Industry Trade Publications who seek out new greeting card designs and feature artists for free.

How to Make an EBook Cover for Non-Designers is an illustrated book will show you how to make your own e-book cover, even if you are not a designer. It is intended to help the indie writer who is on a budget and wants to publish and sell their own book in online stores such Amazon.com and the Apple ibookstore. Selling your book in these stores will allow readers to purchase your book and read it on multiple devices such as the Kindle, iPad, iPhone and many other electronic devices.

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About Kate

I am a designer who lives in Berkeley California who has worked in the greeting card and gift industry for over 20 years. I like to create things that make people laugh. For more information on licensing my art, visit my website.